Rail-joint.



No. 826,812. Y PATENTED JULY 24, 1906. E. P. WINGREN. RAIL JOINT.

APPLIUA'IYION FILED HAYE. 1906.

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ITE) STATES PATENT OFFCE.

ERIC PETER WINGREN, OF DENISON, TEXAS.

RAIL-JOINT.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed May 9, 1906. Serial No. 315,945.

T0 all whom it may concer-7c:

Be it known that I, ERIC PETERW'INGREN, a citizen of the-United States, and a resident of Denison, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Rail-Joint, of which the following is aflange thrust on curves, and to allow the con-v venient use of the device on steam and electric railways.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

`Figure l is a plan view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectionalside elevation of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a like view of a modified form of the improvement.

The longitudinally-extending girders A A are arranged on opposite sides of the rails B and B, to be fastened together by the device, and the said girders A A are connected with each other by transverse members C, C', C2,

and C3 in the form of vertically-disposedplates capable of flexing, the plates being provided at or near their middle with flanges C, fastened by bolts, rivets, or other fastening devices D to the bases of the rails B and B. Thus by the arrangement described the members C, C, C2, and C3 form seats for the bases of the rails B and B, and as the latter are rigidly secured to the said members C, C', C2, and C3 it is evident that any expansion and contraction of the rails causes corre-- sponding flexing of the members C, C C2, and C3 without danger, however, of disuniting the connected parts. As illustrated in Figs. l to 6, the members C, C C2, and C3 form integral parts of the girders A A"that is, the said parts constitute a frame, prefer'- ably made of steelv-but, if desired,the members C, C', C2, and C3 may be fastened by bolts, rivets, or othersuitable fasteningdevices to the girdersA and A, and the members C, C, C2, and C3 are insulated from the girders by suitable insulating-plates, as illustrated in Fig. 7'. Now this construction is especially designed for use on railways using block-signals or any other signaling apparatus requiring occasional insulation of twoL adjoining rails. lf, however, a perfect electrical connection from one rail to anotheris desired,

the rails B B are welded to the members C4 either electrically or by a thermit or other process, so that a perfect electrical connection j from rail to rail is obtained without the use of the copper bonds now generally employed, and at the same time the joint allows expansion and contraction of the rails by the flexing of the members C, C, C2, and C3.

A practical embodiment of the invention is j In order-to insure longitudinal alinement of the rails B B and to form a rail-brace to iresist the flange thrust on curves, the membersk C, C, C2, and C3 are provided with upwardly-extending integral extensions C5, havflanges C6 at their inner ends secured by in@ bolts, rivets, or other fastening devices E to the webs of the rails B' andl B. By reference to\ the drawings it will1 be seen that the extensions C5 only engage the webs of the rails at one side thereof, it being understood that by this construction the rails can be conveniently placed on the rail-joint when laying the track.

In order to limit the flexing movement of the members C2 C3, the following device is provided. The members C2 C3 are provided below the bases of the rails B B with bosses C7 C8, engaged by a longitudinally-extending bolt F, arranged to allow the members C2 C3 to flex outwardly or from each other to a predetermined distance, but to prevent further outward fiexing, thereby preventing the ends of they rails B B from being pulled too-far apart in case of creepage or other causes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by a correct proportioning of the parts the device is equally as rigid as the rails, and as there is no wear and no possibility of its parts working loose it will remain in proper condition for a long time.

The device may be used in other structures in which it is desired to have a small longitudinal movement without sacrificing any IOO IIO

strength in a vertical plane, and -hence I do not limit myself to the particular use of the device as shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A rail-joint `provided withA a frame having transverse members capable of flexing and to which the rails aresecured.

2. A rail-joint provided with a frame having transverse members capable of flexing and to which the rails are secured, the said members having extensions for engaging the ra ls at one side to insure longitudinal alinement of the rails. .i

3. Arail-joint, comprising girders spaced apart on opposite sides of the rails, transverse members connecting the girders with cachy other and forming a iiexible seat for the j bases of the rails, and fastening devices for securing the rail-bases to the said members.

4. A rail-joint, comprising girders spaced apart y,on opposite sides of the rails, transverse members connecting the girders with each other and forming a flexible seat for the bases of the rails, the said members having upward extensions for engaging the rails at yone side to insure longitudinal alinement of 6. A rail-joint provided with a'frame having transverse members capable of flexing and to which the rails are secured, and means for limiting the flexing movement of the said members.

7. A rail-joint, comprising girders spaced apart on opposite sides of the rails, transverse members connecting the girders with each other and forming a flexible seat for the bases of the rails, fastening devices for securing the rail-bases to the said members, and

E means for limiting the flexing movement ofv the said members. v

8. A rail-joint, comprising girders spaced apart on opposite sides of the rails, transversemembers connecting the girders with each other and forming a iiexible seat for the bases of the rails, two of the members having on opposite sides of the joint of ythe rails means for limiting the fiexing movement of the said two members, and fastening `devices for securing the said bases to the said members.

9. A rail-joint, comprising girders spaced apart on opposite sides of the rails, transverse members connecting the girders with each other and forming a fiexible seat for the bases of the rails, bosses on the two members located on opposite sides of the jointof the rail, a bolt extending loosely through the said bosses in a longitudinal direction to limit the fiexing movement of the said members, and` fastening devices for securing the railbases to the said members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses. i

. ERIC PETER WINGREN.

Witnesses:

NELsoN G. CHAMBEELAIN, GEO. W. EMERSON. 

